Looking Towards Home: Mountain Top Experience

Memories permeate my mind of moments past. People of yesteryear have flooded my soul, linger, treading up memories of the distant and not so distant past. Memory lane can be a time of refreshing. triumph or despair. Praise the Lord that despair does not linger to much on memory lane for me. Don't get me wrong, there are some I would like to change but most are wonderful, lingering moments that I treasure. From the mountain top experience to the valley floor below the path is what ties them all together and be the best part of all.

The most impact, life changing moment in my life is when I was standing in the parking lot of Prairie Camp in Wakarusa, Indiana in the dark just after attending the revival service of the Missionary Church. The evangelist was Dr.Harold Hunter from Cookville, Tennessee and his sermon had been about what heaven would be like. A friend looked at me and asked me if I knew who Jesus was. I replied,"Of course I do!". He asked me again and I replied the same but then my mind began to doubt. Inside I was screaming "I know the story. Its in the Bible. Where do you think I have been? Don't you know where I came from? We have the corner on this Jesus thing all figured out." Oh, how sadly was I wrong.

Over the next several weeks I struggled with this question. I finally decided to ask Jesus himself who he was. And boy, did he ever show me. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. So one afternoon, I called my friend and asked him to meet me at McDonald's. In the dining room of McDonald's I met Jesus Christ for the first time in my life, right over a cheeseburger and fries. My heart and life where forever changed from that moment on.

To me, that is why McDonald's is known as the Golden Arches. They lead right into heaven.

This past week, has been another week of wonderful memories. On Sunday I had an unexpected phone conversation for several hours with an old friend that knows and shares a lot of my deepest and sweetest memories. On Tuesday, I woke up to a bright sunny day. I lingered over my quiet time with God then he whispered to me to come outside and play. I have to admitted I argued with him about needing to do earthy chores such as clean, wash clothes, grocery shop ect. But I finally surrendered and took a hike up Sea Harbor Mountain, I was so glad I did because it rained on Wednesday. Thursday the sun really shined so I went for another hike and met some wonderful new people.

My Hike up Sea Harbor Mountain!

On the hike up.

Sitka airport. The quickest way out of Sitka!

If you look really close to the left above the tree limb you can see the ferry boat at the ferry terminal. This is one of the only two ways to come and go from Sitka.